​The question 20 centuries later, then, is, "What causes hearts of married couples to become hardened today?"  Moreover, "How do Christian couples become hardened? " For our purposes:  "What happens if one of those hardened Christian spouses is a pastor?"

7:32 --  Vikki The Producer takes over from Vikki The Runner.  She gives instructions about Joanne Gilbert , a college classmate who contributed to Vikki's St. Jude fundraiser, responding to a matching contribution training challenge for that morning.  On her heels came Producer Jules, having closed the gap.  It was a "had to be there" moment...so why not let's go there.  After the video moment, Michael went back to The Hill, per instructions, but not before sharing the video with Trudy.

8:10 -- The Hill is actually the end of an incline on Water Street in Batavia.  It's a steep incline the marathoners must be careful navigating because coming down too fast can cause a stumble, also because the foot of The Hill is a curve leading into the back five miles to the half-marathon turnaround marker.

The Hill is also characterized by a horrid stench: burning sulfur and sour water.  As if the Fox River is flatulating.  It has something to do with stored salt vats on the river. The smell is a good reason to take off. 

​ Michael discusses this smells with Janie, an official Fox Valley Marathon cheerer...people who volunteered to work the marathon. She and her husband have been assigned strategic spots on the course to shout encouragement along with family and friends, and after family and friends have moved to another location.  

This is Janie's first time to volunteer.  She is hopeful the last runner will pass by her location -- eight miles from the start -- in time for her to return to the Finish Line in downtown St. Charles and partake of the festive celebration.

 Despite the smell, The Hill is a pastoral retreat.  The sound of soles on concrete accompanied by church bells peeling is a momentary respite from what waits around the curve.

Against this Sunday backdrop, Janie occasionally waves and cheers, "Good job" while hearing Michael tells  her about how Jules helped Vikki across the line three years earlier.  The story is so engrossing, he almost forgets to keep watch for Vikki who doesn't forget him. 

8:27 -- Thirty yards from where Michael is holding court with Janie, Vikki shouts. She is coming.  She's making much better time than expected, still doesn't need Ibuprofen, but benefits from Michael slathering the muscle rub on her calves.  Much kneaded.  She turns around and heads back toward Jules, who has finished, and is waiting at the car on Route 56. 

Vikki is now running with the pack of marathon competitors. ​ They're heading for the back end where Vikki will meet Jules and Michael three miles down the road for a last triumverate reconoiter heading toward the finish.  

 Saturday ended at 9:30 for Vikki.  Mike pushed the envelope until Sunday, 12:30 AM, to meet a deadline.  Church was not on the docket. but early communion with God was.  The wakeup call was 4:30.  Departure was set for 5:30.  Vikki pulled out of the lot at 5:40, in stony simmering spousal silence -- the silent count to ten; enacting James' "be slow to speak" as Michael set his hot coffee cup on the dashboard, to both buckle in and to gauge the temperature, outside inside the car. 

They were not LATE, they were just behind, he wanted to say; but didn't.  Plus, she'd just gone out herself, to start the car, to drive, because driving gave her the reassurance of control.  Seeing as how the day could go, Vikki needed to start the day in control.  Besides, it was enough that he was in the car before The Tardiness Window closed.  Both were confident the drive wouldn't take as long as it could.  Especially since Vikki was already behind the wheel.  They'd still be on time, depending on which way they went.  It was not a time of debate about directions.

(There was that little thing about whether to take the interstate all the way even though that road without lights took them three miles father south before swinging back north; OR, should they take the take a fast local which was more direct to the destination, and had almost interstate speeds...but how may traffic lights?  Michael played Kenny Rogers, knowing when to fold his lips, letting Vikki brainstorm the route on which she felt most comfortable ("in control?").  He only offered verbal assistance when they got off the interstate and he became Scarecrow to Vikki's Dorothy.  "Which way do I turn?" she said.

Because they both saw the arrow and spoke at the same time, the relationship was saved. 

Suffice to say, they arrived at the appointed time, on time...even a few seconds ahead of Jules, and proceeded into the appointed pre-race routine.  Stretch, drive to bathroom, drive to starting location, review Michael's timings and locations , pray and run.  All of which happened as scheduled, and at 6 AM, both ladies began their jaunt at the eight-mile mark of the Fox Valley course, a full hour and 10 degrees cooler than when the marathon began at 7 AM when Michael was scheduled to meet Vikki again.  Five miles down the road.

Though not a song by which to run, nor one on the ChicagoMarathon VikkiThon playlist, "Order My Steps" is an essential preparation song.  A prayer for packing materials before the race.  A prayer for safety and travel during the run.
Written by acclaimed author Glenn Burleigh, the song came to our attention through the live recording by the  Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.  The selection here is a powerful rendition by  the GMWA Women of Worship.
​Attend the lyrics.

​Order my steps in Your word dear Lord
Lead me, guide me everyday
Send Your anointing, Father I pray;
Order my steps in Your word
Please, order my steps in Your word
--
I want to walk worthy
According to Thy will
Please order my steps Lord
And I'll do Your blessed will
The world is ever changing
But You are still the same;
Please order my steps, Lord I'll praise Your name

Michael says this schedule, coming at the end of my  9-to-after-5 work week, explains the subliminal reason why my VikkiThon Playlist includes Whitney Houston's classic anthem:  "I'm Every Woman." I disagree.  I've always loved the song, found Whitney and inspiration in my own music, and, frankly, find myself sad whenever I think about how her life transpired.  Of how her talent was misused.  

Looking over the Vikkithon  Playlist, and reviewing previous posts I know I've chosen many songs that are not traditional church songs.  The truth is, many are difficult to run to.  Most would be cool down and stretch tunes. 

At the same time, I adore the traditional church songs -- meaning the ones Michael, Garlan or I grew up hearing, or that were taught to us by the old people at church -- with a new bent.  New funk. Or, in the words of one of my favorite gospel rappers, T-Bone, songs with some "stank."

When the "stanky" old school songs come up, I can "have church" no matter what day of the week, or how tired I am during the run or after the run. 

​The beat and the rhythm, naturally, help...even after the run, like when I recuperated after the 10K Gospel Run in June when blocks of South Shore Beach in Chicago became a Saturday morning concert propelling the runners and walkers on shore and into Lake Michigan.

But, as a songwriter myself, I'm most moved by the words, especially words from Scripture. 

So, for musical and theological reasons, I am inspired by Eddie James' "Strong and Mighty." I was first introduced to the song by the Bellevue Baptist Church choir, which Garlan directs.  I've sung the tune with Bellevue, as part of the choir, and congregation. 

​I didn't connect that it was based in the King James Version of Psalm 24 and employs verses 4-7 in the lyrics until I saw the video with  the words (the idea of music videos with lyrics is wonderful, and corrects lots of misinterpretations).  Use them to introduce a song when you can.  We'll write about that later.

No matter what the rest of the soundtracks include, or no matter how badly the weekend has gone, old school church music  like this have a special place and let's me remember The Lord Is Running with me no matter what day of the week.

There are levels of marathon training. I started practicing on treadmills, at home or in hotels when working.
​
Many had simulated visual terrains or inclines to simulate what's to be encountered outdoors. Besides building endurance, the concept bulit confidence. If I could run 5-10 miles indoors consistently, I should be in good shape to keep the same pace once the weather improved and I could run outside.
​
Then came preparation for my first 26.2 chase, the Fox Valley Marathon, and, as Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell sang, "Ain't nothing like the real thing."

MUSICAL INTERLUDE:
Marvin & Tammi

Mr. Fountain passed away two years ago.  I had the honor of meeting and working with him and the Five Blind Boys many years ago during a production of Pulitzer-nominated "The Gospel at Colonus" at Chicago’s Goodman Theater.  The video here is a bonus, in honor of Mr. Fountain, as a sample of how the gospel can be dramatized before a audience outside of church. (From the PBS production, not the Goodman)

Here's a live version of "Another Star" by Stevie Wonder, the rhythm of which we played as the processional of our wedding. (And, no, I'll not be running at this tempo.)

​I think of this as a psalm, an emotional tug-of-war of God's love...perhaps a conversation between David and God, or Job and God... maybe we are running from God's love and He is in pursuit (in the marathon vein).

"Got to Get You Into My Life," the Lennon-McCartney song covered by Earth, Wind & Fire as I run, is another psalm example. However, rather than debate, it's a shout out (think Psalms 149, 150) to celebrate the Lord's love, or the cry of one who is repenting and returning.

Take a listen and connect the words to passages you know. I'd love to hear which scriptures speak to you through this song.